Winged Foot West
A.W. Tillinghast carved the West Course out of rock and hardwood north of New York City in 1923, and it has spent a century chewing up the best players in the world. A par 72 of about 7,477 yards, it has hosted six US Opens and returns for a seventh in 2028, a brutal test of long iron play into some of the most feared greens in American golf.
Photo: Winged Foot Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Tillinghast laid out both courses at Winged Foot in 1923, and the West has always been the headliner, a relentless parkland test where the architect promised a man sized golf course and delivered greens that fall away on every side. When the USGA brings the US Open to Mamaroneck, the West is set up at par 70 and the converted ninth becomes one of the longest par 4s in major championship history.
The reputation is earned. In every US Open played here only two men have finished the championship under par, Fuzzy Zoeller and Greg Norman in 1984, and Bryson DeChambeau won in 2020 as the lone player under par for the week. The fairways are fair off the tee by modern standards, but the par 4s are long and the green complexes are the real defense, pitched and bunkered so that a missed approach leaves the hardest up and down in the game. It is private and hard to access, but for a serious student of architecture it is close to essential.
Winged Foot West at a glance
- Opened
- 1923
- Designer
- A.W. Tillinghast
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,477 yds
- Green fee
- Members
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Winged Foot Golf Club records and leading course databases. The West Course was designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1923, a par 72 of about 7,477 yards that the USGA sets up at par 70 for the US Open. Winged Foot is a private members club with very limited visitor access, generally as the guest of a member. There is no published public green fee, so always confirm access directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The West opens demanding and rarely lets up. Tillinghast routed it through mature oak and maple on rolling Westchester ground, and the challenge is less about width off the tee than about the angle and the green. Miss on the wrong side and the recovery is close to impossible, because the putting surfaces shrug approaches off into deep collection areas and the bunkers sit tight against the edges.
The par 3s are a clinic, led by the long third and the celebrated tenth, a downhill one shot hole that Ben Hogan called the greatest par 3 in America. The closing stretch is among the toughest in championship golf, the long par 4 eighteenth climbing to a green that has decided multiple US Opens, most famously the bogey Phil Mickelson made in 2006 to lose by one.
What stays with you is the quality of the green complexes. There is no respite, no easy pin, and the player who controls the trajectory and spin of the long iron is rewarded while everyone else scrambles. The West gives back the purest examination of approach play in the United States.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visitors generally play only as the guest of a member |
| Green fee | No published public fee; any guest rate is arranged through the club (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Through a member or a specialist trip planner well in advance |
| On the day | Caddies available; classic parkland walk; clubhouse traditions observed |
| Getting there | Mamaroneck in Westchester County, about 45 minutes north of midtown Manhattan |
| Best months | May to October for the warm season and firm, fast conditions |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Winged Foot is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Westchester County or in Manhattan, both within easy reach of Mamaroneck and packed with hotels and dining to suit every budget. A Westchester base keeps you close to the club and to the wider cluster of classic New York metropolitan courses.
For a golf focused trip, pair Winged Foot with the great public test at Bethpage Black on Long Island and the parkland classics of the New York area. It is an ideal region to build a multi course tour around for the architecture enthusiast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Winged Foot West.
Build a New York golf trip
We arrange access where it is possible, pair the marquee courses with the best public tests in the New York area and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Winged Foot West questions
Who designed Winged Foot West and when did it open?
The West Course at Winged Foot was designed by A.W. Tillinghast and opened in 1923, alongside its sister East Course.
What is the par and length of Winged Foot West?
The West Course is a par 72 of about 7,477 yards from the back tees, though the USGA sets it up at par 70 for the US Open.
How many US Opens has Winged Foot West hosted?
Winged Foot West has hosted six US Opens, in 1929, 1959, 1974, 1984, 2006 and 2020, and is scheduled to host again in 2028.
Can visitors play Winged Foot West?
Winged Foot is a private members club. Visitors generally play only as the guest of a member, so access should be arranged well in advance.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.